Protocol No 3

on the Sami people

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,

RECOGNIZING the obligations and commitments of Norway, Sweden and Finland with regard to the Sami people under national and international law,

NOTING, in particular, that Norway, Sweden and Finland are committed to preserving and developing the means of livelihood, language, culture and way of life of the Sami people,

CONSIDERING the dependence of traditional Sami culture and livelihood on primary economic activities, such as reindeer husbandry in the traditional areas of Sami settlement,

HAVE AGREED on the following provisions,

Article 1

Notwithstanding the provisions of the EC Treaty, exclusive rights to reindeer husbandry within traditional Sami areas may be granted to the Sami people.

Article 2

This Protocol may be extended to take account of any further development of exclusive Sami rights linked to their traditional means of livelihood. The Council may, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, and after consulting the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions, adopt the necessary amendments to the Protocol.